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When installing baseboard trim or
crown moulding, and using a hammer and finish nails, it is necessary to
countersink the finish nails below the surface of the wood. To do this a hammer
and nail set are used. A nail set helps to prevent the area around the finished
nail from becoming bruised or damaged from the head of the hammer.
A nail set is a steel nail punch that is
about 3 to 4 inches in length and has a tapered end for striking finish nail
heads.
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The nail set shaft has a rough,
cross-hatched pattern on its surface to aid in holding it when sinking nail
heads. The backend of the nail set has a large flat surface for striking with a
hammer.
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Nail sets are available in a
variety of sizes. The most common head diameters are 1/32”, 2/32”, and
3/32”. Make sure you use a nail set head diameter that is appropriate for
the particular finished nail head diameter. The general concept when
selecting a nail set is to use one that will not enlarge the nail hole wider
than the diameter of the finished nail.
Using a Nail Set
When nailing finish trim work,
hammer the finish nail into the wood until just the head of the nail is
exposed above the surface of the wood.
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Next, place the tapered point of the
nail set on top of the finish nail head. Notice that the finished nail head has
a dimple on it to help in positioning the nail set.
While holding the nail set onto the
finished nail head, strike the backside of the nail set with your hammer to
drive the nail below the surface of the wood. Ideally the nail head should be
sunk approximately 1/8th inch below the surface of the wood.
Photos by Mark Donovan
Take care when using a nail set to
hold it perfectly straight onto the nail head surface. Also make clean, swift
hammer strikes so that only one or two are required to sink the nail. If you tap
the hammer on the nail set many times, the nail set
may walk off the surface of
the nail set and damage the nail entrance area around the wood.
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More Information on Finished Carpentry and Crown Molding
How to Finance your Crown Molding
Installation Project -
can help provide funds for your new home improvement project if
financing is required.
Nail Sets and Hammers from Amazon.com
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